Print head for a postage meter

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a mechanism for adjustably setting the print head of a postage meter and comprises: a hollow drive shaft for the meter unit, which drive shaft is removably mounted at its rear end in a meter base unit; a meter print head mounted on said drive shaft adjacent the rear end of thereof, and therefore close to the bearing in which the drive shaft is mounted; pairs of selection bars, or racks, one of which is mounted in a slot on the exterior of the drive shaft and penetrating into the central aperture of the print head and the other of each pair being nonrotatably mounted for longitudinal adjustment within the interior of the hollow drive shaft; manual means for setting the selection bars, preferably including a setting wheel for setting the value selection mechanism for the registers and a gear train from the setting wheel to the interior bars, and means for connecting the interior and exterior selection bars through a slot in the wall of the drive shaft; and gearing connecting the exterior rack with the setting mechanism of the print head. In the preferred form of the invention, the print head is nearly 50% wider than heretofore used and has a diameter of 4 1/2 inches, which is greater than those now commonly used. Hence, the print head will print a larger stamp and provide much greater length for a slogan plate.

United States Patent [1 1 MalavazosSdeceased et al.

[22] Filed: Apr. 3, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 457,595

[52] US. Cl. 101/91; 235/132 R [51] Int. Cl. B41L 47/46 [58] Field of Search lOl/9l, 92, 76, 77, 110,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/l950 Rouan et al. 101/91 6/1971 Woodhead 101/91 Primary E.rnminer-Edgar S. Burr Assistant Examiner-R. E. Suter Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robyn Wilcox [57] ABSTRACT This invention relates to a mechanism for adjustably [451 Nov. 11,1975

setting the print head of a postage meter and comprises: a hollow drive shaft for the meter unit, which drive shaft is removably mounted at its rear end in a meter base unit; a meter print head mounted on said drive shaft adjacent the rear end of thereof, and therefore close to the bearing in which the drive shaft is mounted; pairs of selection bars, or racks, one of which is mounted in a slot on the exterior of the drive shaft and penetrating into the central aperture of the print head and the other of each pair being nonrotatably mounted for longitudinal adjustment within the interior of the hollow drive shaft; manual means for setting the selection bars, preferably including a setting wheel for setting the value selection mechanism for the registers and a gear train from the setting wheel to the interior bars, and means for connecting the interior and exterior selection bars through a slot in the wall of the drive shaft; and gearing connecting the exterior rack with the setting mechanism of the print head. In the preferred form of the invention, the print head is nearly 50% wider than heretofore used and has a diameter of 4% inches, which is greater than those now commonly used. Hence, the print head will print a larger stamp and provide much greater length for a slogan plate.

14 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet 1 013 U.S. Patent Nov.1l, 1975 Sheet2of3 3,918,361

US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet3of3 3,918,361

PRINT HEAD FOR A POSTAGE METER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention can, in effect, be considered as actually, if not legally, a division of the copending application entitled Arithmetic Unit for a Postal Meter, filed on even date herewith, Ser. No. 457,592, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,890,491, issued June 17, 1975; and as such, is complimentary to the copending application entitled Selection Mechanism for a Postage Meter", filed on even date herewith, Ser. No. 457,594; Register for a Postage Meter, filed on even date herein, Ser. No. 457,593 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,876,870 issued Apr. 8, 1975; and Lock for Selection Mechanism for a Postage Meter", likewise filed on even date herewith, Ser. No. 457,591 now issuing as U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,355, dated July I, 1975. 4

Postage meters are made under strict regulations proscribed by the United States Post Office which require, among other things, that a value selected for the meter must be accurately set in the value printing stamp of the meter and accurately set into each of two registers one in which the values are accumulated, known as the ascending register, and one in which a value of the stamp is subtracted from the value set by the Post Office at the time of payment for postage, known as the descending register, and a mechanism which locks the 'meter against any operation when the value in the descending register falls below that which could be set into the meter by the operator. The particular mechanism described and claimed herein relates to the printing mechanism of such a meter. It is well-known in the art that the Post Office with which a meter is registered will, upon the payment of an amount to cover postage desired by the user, reset the descending register from time to time, but the values accumulated in the ascending register are never changed except by machine operation. It is very important that the stamp imprint made by the meter be clear and large enough to be easily readable.

Other requirements of the Post Office are that the meter must be accurate in all aspects of its operation, and that no stamp can be printed without a like registration of the stamp value in the two registers. It should be ruggedly constructed to withstand-long and hard usage and it must be relatively trouble-free. It is wellknown that a meter is so encased in its cover that it cannot be altered in any way, except at the Post Office, when they unlock access to the descending register and change its setting; and the slogan printing plate can be changed by the user any other repair or change in the meter requires that the meter be officially taken from service by the distributor and repaired in a facility that is subject to Post Office inspection. Hence, it is essential for a satisfactory postage meter to be extremely accurate in registering the values printed by it into both registers as well as to be rugged and trouble free in its operation.

OBJECTS It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a print head for a postage meter that is more simply constructed than those commonly used at present.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a print head which is much larger than those now commonly in use and hence can print a larger and more legible stamp than is now possible.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a print head for a postage meter that is mounted adjacent the meter base mechanism, in contrast to most modern machines in which the print head is at or adjacent the free end thereof, and hence will not subject the shaft on which the print head is mounted to the bending and twisting which is common to most postage meters when stamping thick pieces of mail.

It is another important object of the present invention to provide a print head in which the setting members are, for the most part, contained within the hollow interior of the drive shaft on which the print head is mounted, which interior members can be held in a rigid non-rotating position, although they are readily axially adjustable to control the various functions of the print head.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a betterprint head than any now available.

These and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the description of the register in the following specification when construed in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the main drive shaft of the invention showing particularly the selection mechanism and the location of the registering devices utilized in connection with this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the print head of the present invention taken immediately to the front of the print head, such as along the vertical plane indicated by the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the print head of the present invention, such as taken along the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a detail view of a gear train connecting an exterior setting bar, nested in its groove in the exterior of the drive shaft, with its print wheel, such as a view taken along the plane indicated by the line 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the drive shaft taken at a point where a pair of exterior and interior setting bars are connected one with the other, such as along the plane indicated by the line 55 of FIG. 1.

The mechanism of the present invention is mounted in a frame structure which includes, among other things, a front frame plate 101, an intermediate frame plate 102, a second intermediate frame plate 104, and a rear frame plate 105, end plate 107, and an auxiliary plate 108, all shown in FIG. 1. A fixed round shaft, or axle, 1 15 is rigidly supported at its front end in the front end in the end plate 107, and at its rear in a frame member not shown in these drawings. The main drive shaft 120 is a hollow cylinder surrounding the bar 115 and maintained in proper spaced relationship thereto by a series of a plurality of grooved disks 367 which serve to set the mechanism in the print head from setting bars that lie within the drive shaft 120, as hereinafter described. It should be mentioned at this point that there is one such grooved disk 367 for each order of the selection mechanism (four in the preferred form of the invention), one for setting the month of the date stamp, two for setting the days of the date stamp, one for setting the date stamp in either printing to nonprinting position, one for setting the bulk rate slug, or die, to either printing or non-printing position, and two which set the two slogan dies of the present invention to either printing or non-printing position, as is more fully described hereafter. The various devices which are controlled by the selection mechanism are shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1 and include the Thomas-type mutilated gear actuator 501, the descending register 50 described in the copending application entitled Register for a Postage Meter above mentioned; an identical Thomas-type mutilated gear actuator 601, an ascending register 60, as well as the print head 70 of the present invention.

The selection mechanism of the present invention is set-ineach order of the register in whcih a value can be selectively set by a setting wheel 301 which is rotatably mounted on a bar attached to the frame plate 101 and 102. Each setting wheel 301 has a gear 307 affixed thereto, which gear meshes with a rack 315 which is rigidly affixed to a selection bar 320 that is mounted in suitable bearings carried by the frame plates 101, 102 for both longitudinal and rotating movement for purposes to be hereinafter described. Each rack 315 carries a yoke 316 that embraces a slot 513 in a ninetooth selection gear 512 mounted on a square shaft 510 whereby the gear 512 will be differentially set opposite a selected value tooth on the mutilated drum 501, as more fully described in the application entitled Register for a Postage Meter" above referred to.

The selection bar 320 is provided with a series of ten circular detent grooves 321 with which is associated a spring ball detent 322 that is resiliently pressed against the bar 320. by a compression spring 323, the ball and spring being held in a suitable cylindrical holder, not shown, carried by the frame of the device. Thus, the bar 320 can be longitudinally adjusted by rotation of the wheeel 301 against the force of spring 323, and once adjusted, will be resiliently held in that position by the force of that spring.

It will be understood that there is a setting wheel 301 and an associated selection bar 320 for each order of the selection mechanism in which a value can be set. In the preferred form of this invention there'are four such setting mechanisms, so that a value of $99.99 may be printed and set into the register (or a value of 39.99% in those few instances in which a user desires a one-half cent mechanism). The bars 320 and setting wheels 301 are angularly placed around the actuator 501 as shown in the associated application entitled Selection Mechanism for a Postage Meter". Since the mechanisms of all of these selection setting devices are identical, it is believed that only one need be described.

Rearwardly to the detent grooves 321 on bar 320 is an annular notch 324. The groove 324 is embraced by an ascending register yoke 330 which is rigidly secured to an ascending register setting bar 331. The forward end of the register bar is provided with a series of circumferential teeth 332. These teeth mesh with a gear 333 which is rigidly secured to a check dial 334 mounted on a shaft 335. The check dial 334 is provided with indicia showing the values from to 9, inclusive, and is visible through a suitable window in the cover, not shown. The operator can thus determine the value set in the register by looking at the check dials 334 which at all times will correctly register the value set in the mechanism. No indicia are required in the setting wheel 301, as preferably that can slip with respect to the value set in the mechanism.

The ascending register selection bar 331 is suitably journalled in the machine for axial, or longitudinal movement, such as in bearings in the frame plates 104,

105. Adjacent the rear end, the bar 331 carries a yoke 616 rigidly secured thereto by any suitable means, such as a pin not identified. The outer, or Y, end of the yoke engages a notch in the hub of a selection gear 512 in the ascending register.

Adjacent the rear end of the main setting bar 320 is a series of nine circumferential rack teeth 340. As shown in FIG. 1, this section of the bar has a flattened surface 341. In the drawing it would appear that this flattened surface 341 lies at the very top of the bar in the normal position of the bar. However, in actual construction, it is preferred that this flattened surface be slightly off to the side, being placed 107 from the bottom of the rack when the bar 320 is in its normal position. Associated with the rack 340 is a restore cam 342, having a series of nine projecting cam faces 343 so angled as to restore the selection bar 320 one tooth or cam disk 342 and its nine camming teeth 343 and I hence it cannot engage the teeth 340 of the rack and the bar 320 will not be restored automatically.

Adjacent the forward end of the main selection bar 320 is a second series of circumferential rack teeth 350. While the setting bar can only be moved nine steps to enter a maximum value of nine in any order, it is preferred to provide about double that number of teeth in order to lock the bar in a non-restore position by the means hereinafter described. At this point it can be noted that at least the central portion of this series of rack teeth is flattened to permit the bar to be moved past a locking plate 420. However, when the bar 320 is rocked through an angle of 107, the space between the adjacent teeth 350 will engage the edge of the plate 340, thereby locking the setting bar 320 in its adjusted position.

Whether or not the shaft 320 is in the automatic restore position shown in FIG. 1, or in the fixed position just mentioned, the gear teeth of each setting or selection bar 320 meshes with a first idler gear 360 rotatably mounted on a pivot stud 361 and that, in turn, meshes with a second idler 362 rotatably mounted on a stud 363. The two gears 360 and 362 are mounted radially of the fixed bar and drive shaft as shown in FIG. 1. The second idler 362 meshes with the rack portion 364 of a setting bar 365 which runs lengthwise of the fixed bar, or axle, 115 and the rotating cylindrical drive shaft 120. Each bar 365 is held in its proper angular position by being nested in a groove 1 16 in the fixed bar 115. The bars 365 are therefore held against rotation of the drive shaft 120 but are free to move axially along the fixed shaft, or axle, 115.

Each of the bars 365 carries at an intermediate point a grooved disk 367. The grooved disk 367 has a central annular groove 368 and a pair of side walls 369, as shown in FIG. 1. The grooved disk 367 is mounted on its respective bar 365 by means of a pair of collars 370 tightly holding the grooved disk between them, each of the collars being riveted to the bar 365 by suitable rivets 371. In order to prevent interference between the different grooved disks 367 and their clamping rings 370, each order of the selection mechanism (of which 367 non-rotatably engage the interior wall of the main drive shaft 120. Since there are eleven such disks 367 (one for each of the 11 settable elements in the print head, as above mentioned), it is obvious that they prevent any of the bars 365 from being displaced from their grooves in the axle 115.

The outside wall of the drive shaft 120 is provided with a series of eleven longitudinal slots 376 so angularly arranged as to most conveniently connect to the mechanisms in print head 70 to which they relate. In each such slot 376 is a bar 377 on the rear end of which is provided with gear teeth, or rack 378. A pin 379 is riveted at the point where it will register with the grooved disk 367 on the functionally related setting bar 365. This pin 379, as shown in FIG. 1, is adapted to engage the groove 368 in the functionally related grooved disk 367 through a slot 375 through the wall of the drive shaft 120.

It would appear from FIG. 1 that the interior bar 365 and the exterior bar 376 lie in the same angular plane. However, this figure has been distorted to show that the two are functionally associated. Actually, as shown in FIGS.2 and 5, the two are angularly separated. As a practical matter, it is preferred to have the print wheels and the indicia for the stamp to trail the printing position (bottom of the figure) by a very slight angle so that it may contact an ink supply device and immediately print the stamp on the mail close to the leading edge of the mail matter (which generally goes from left to right). However, the value setting mechanism is preferably placed on top of the machine where it is readily available to the operator and with the units order on the extreme right-hand as an operator faces the machine. The date stamp controls are most conveniently placed on the lower left side of the front of the meter, as shown in FIG. 1, and the four print or non-print controls can be set in any place convenient to the operator. The angular displacement of the two functionally related setting bars 365 and 377 is readily accomplished by the use of the slotted disk 367. Since the disk 36 is rigidly fastened to the inner bar 365, it moves axially of the fixed shaft 115 and drive shaft 120 and in a plane perpendicular to both as the inner setting bar 365 moves longitudinally. Also, since the disk 367 forms a complete circle, the pin 3'70 (regardless of where the outer slot 376 and the slot 375 through the bottom of the exterior slot 376 into the interior of the cylindrical drive shaft 120, are located) is always in contact with the slotted disk 367 and hence is effective to set the outer setting bar 377 in exact increments from the movement of the inner setting bar 365. Thus, the manual setting devices can be arranged in the most advantageous position on the outside of the cover and be directly connected to its respective inner setting bar 365 and the outer setting bar 377 can be placed where most practical in the printing head 70. It should be noted that the exterior bars 377 are held in ther slots 376 against radial displacement as the front ends lie within confines of the front actuator drum 501 and the rear ends lie within the confines of the print head itself.

Thus, as the main selection bar 320 is moved to a differential position selected by the operator, the rack teeth 350, through the medium of idler gears 360 and 362, moves the interior rack bar 365 forwardly an equal amount. By means of the grooved disk, or collar, 367 and pin 379, the rack bar 377, lying in the groove in the exterior walls of the main drive shaft 120, is moved a like amount. When the main drive shaft is rotated to enter the values into the respective registers and and rotate the print head to print the proper stamp on mail matter, the rack bar 377 is held in an adjusted position as its pin 379 travels completely around a circle by its constant contact with the wall 369 of the grooved disk 367. It will also be positively locked in this position throughout the printing and registration portion of a cycle of operation (the portion for each operation being coextensive) as will be described shortly. It may be mentioned at this point that each cycle of operation requires a complete circle of 360. Regardless of whether the meter is set for a single cycle of operation, and the consequent automatic restore of the selection mechanism, or for a continuous series of operations on a locked value, the drive shaft must automatically complete its operation and stop at the end of each full rotation. The means for cycling the drive shaft is not pertinent to this invention but it is understood by those skilled in the art that it is controlled by an incoming piece of mail triggering the operation of the main drive shaft. When set for continuous operation, the incoming letter will operate the trigger for another cycle before the completion of the previous cycle, so the meter will run continuously.

The means for rotating the main selection bar 320 to set it for either automatic restore or fixed selection will not be described in this application. However, it can be noted that a hand wheel 385, through the mechanism described in the application entitled Selection Mechanism for a Postal Meter is operative to rock the selection bar 320 through an angle of 107 and thereby disable the automatic restore rack 340 and cause the teeth of rack 350 to engage the locking plate 420.

It will be understood that there is a pair of setting bars 365 and 377 for each order of the value selection mechanism which, in the preferred form of the present invention is four, as this enables the large value stamp (up to $99.99) to be posted. There are, therefore four print wheels in the print head for registering like values on the printed stamp. There will be three pairs of exterior-interior setting bars 377, 365 for use in printing the date, one for the month, two for the days of the month (the year, since it is used so infrequently, can be set by a stylus). There are two control bars adapted to set the date stamp and the bulk rate die into either a printing or non-printing position; and another pair of setting bars for setting two ad, or slogan, plates into printing or non-printing position. It can be noted here that due to the large size of the print head (in the preferred form of the present invention it is 4% inches in diameter), there is available for printing slogans or other material, such as return addresses, more than another linear 7 inches for such plates. In the preferred form of the invention, two are used one of 3 inches and one of 4 inches, both of which can be set to nonprinting or printing position. Hence, there are eleven pairs of exterior-interior setting bars 377, 365, all of which operate in substantially the same manner.

The value setting wheels which enter values into the register and print the value of the stamp are readily settable through the selection wheel 301 previously mentioned.

The date stamps are controlled through wheels, preferably hand-setting wheels 701 (FIG. 1). It will be understood that there are three such wheels (although only one is shown in this figure), one such wheel being used for printingthe name of the month, and the other two for the date of the month.

A gear 702 on each such wheel meshes with an idler 703 and that, in turn, meshes with another gear 704. These gears are pivotally mounted on pivot studs 705 carried by a plate 706 supported between frame plates 107 and 108. Gear 704 meshes with rack 364 of the functionally related selection bar 365.

The print head 70 (FIG. 3) in the preferred form of this invention carries four value print wheels 720 corresponding to the four manually set selection wheels 301 previously mentioned. These four value print wheels 720 are preferably mounted on a single shaft 721 carried by a U-shaped frame member 722 rigidly mounted on the web 705 of the print head 70. As shown in this figure, the wheels must vary slightly in shape and curvature, as they are mounted on a shaft 721 that, if extended, would form a cord with the circumference of the print head 70. Only one of these value print wheels can be perpendicular to the circumference of the print head, and since the others are parallel to the first, they decrease in size and increasingly increase in curvature, as shown.

These print wheels are set by means of the exterior setting bar 377, the operation of which has heretofore been described. The rack 378 on the rear end of this setting bar meshes with a gear 710 (see FIG. 4) pivotally mounted on a mounting plate 711 by any suitable means, such as pivot stud 712. The gear 710 meshes with an idler 713, likewise pivotally mounted on the plate 711 by some suitable means, such as pivot stud 714. The gear 713, in turn, meshes with a print wheel gear 723 which is rigidly secured to its respective value print wheel 720. Thus, it is seen that the longitudinal movement of the setting bars 365 and 377, through the gear train 710, 713 and 715, will set the respective value wheels 720 to the proper positions. A light spring-pressed detent 716 is pivotally mounted on the supporting plate 711 by any suitable means, such as pivot stud 717, and is biased into light engagement by a light spring 718.

The value printing wheels 720 are centered in a postage design die plate 730 which carries a design 731 approved by the Post Office. The die 730 is affixed to the print wheel 70 by any suitable means, such as screws, not shown. The mechanism for printing the date on the envelope adjacent the stamp comprises a month printing wheel 740, two date setting wheels 741, 742 which can be identical, although the first one will never print more than three digits, and a year wheel 743. As mentioned previously, the year wheel, since it is set only once a year, can be adjusted by a stylus. The three wheels 740, 741 and 742, however, are changed more often, and accordingly, it is preferred to control them from the manual setting of the setting wheels 701 prevously mentioned. The setting wheels 701 (FIG. 1) position interior setting bars 365 as heretofore explained, and they, in turn, translate the exterior setting bars 377 for controlling the three print wheels 740, 741 and 742.

The longitudinal movement of the three bars 377 for the dating mechanism operate gear trains similar to the gear train 710, 713, and 715 heretofore described to set the date stamps to the selected position.

It is well-known that in some types of mail the Post Office does not want the date printed, so that the dating mechanism should be selectively controlled to either a print" or a non-print position. This control can be readily secured by providing an eccentric 745 which lies between opposed arms 746 and 747 on a frame 744 which carries the dating print wheels. The frame 744 is pivotally mounted on the web 705 of the print head. It will be obvious from a glance of FIG. 3 that rotation of the eccentric 745 about its pivot 748 will rock the frame 744 through an angle sufficient to move the entire frame away from the periphery of the print heaad, so that it will no longer be in a print position. The rotation of the eccentric on its shaft 748 can be secured through a gear train meshing with the functionally related exterior setting bar 377.

It was mentioned previously that the preferred form of the print wheel of this invention has a diameter of 4% inches, and accordingly there is approximately 7 inches of space left for slogan plates, or the like. It can be noted that when the print head is at rest (full cycle position shown), there is a blank between the tail end of the second slogan plate and the postage die 730. Preferably, this space ahead of the blank is divided into two sections, or slogan plates, 760 and 761 (FIG. 3). In this figure, the first slogan plate 760 has a length of 3 inches and the second plate 761 has a length of 4 inches. These are much larger than any heretofore usable, as most print heads heretofore have been about half the diameter of. that in this preferred form. The first plate 760 is pivoted on a stud 762 and is moved in and out of printing position by an eccentric 763 mounted on a shaft 764 carried by the web of the wheel. The eccentric 763 is embraced by a pair of arms 765 which are connected by a sleeve 766. The sleeve 766 is rigidly mounted on a bar 767 formed integrally of the circumference of the slogan plate 760. It will be understood that any suitable slogan die can be mounted on the plate 760 by any suitable means, such as screws (not shown). The shaft 764 and its integral eccentric 763 can be rotated to rock the slogan plate 760 into and out of printing position by means of a gear train operated by an exterior setting bar 377 similar to that previously described in connection with the postage value print wheels.

The longer plate 761 is pivotally mounted on a stud 773 that extends through an aperture 771 in the first slogan plate 760. The plate 761 is controlled by an eccentric 775 formed on shaft 776. What appears to be another eccentric is actually a clearance aperture 772 and a frame bar 774 that rigidly ties the two side pieces, or webs, 705 that form the frame of the print head 70. The inward or outward movement of this plate 761 is controlled by the rotation of the eccentric 775 that is integral with a rotatable shaft 776 journalled in suitable bearings carried by the web 705 of the print head 70. The eccentric 775 is embraced between a pair of arms 777 that are rigidly mounted on a post 778 rigidly mounted on the peripheral wall of the slogan plate 761. This eccentric is controlled in the same manner as those previously mentioned.

On of the requirements of the Post Office for the manufacture of postage meters is that the value printing devices be centered in a proper digital position and be rigidly locked in their adjusted position throughout the printing cycle, so that they are not subject to displacement from the position selected by the operator. This is readily secured in the present invention by means of a locking arm 785 (FIG. 2) that is pivotally mounted on the outside of the web 705 of the print wheel 70, as by means of a pivot stud 786 rigidly mounted on the web 705 of the print wheel. This locking arm 785 carries four teeth 787, each of which, when the locking arm 785 is rocked (clockwise in FIG. 2 from the position shown) engage between the teeth 378 of the exterior setting rack 377 which lie immediately outside of the inside web 705. It will be seen in FIG. 1 that there is at least one inter-tooth space to the outside (to the right) of the print head 70. Since setting of the value wheel is to the right from the zero position shown, it is obvious that the teeth 787 can mesh with the teeth 378 of the exterior racks. when so locked against movement, not only the bar 377 but also the value print wheels 720 are firmly held against any displacement and are positively centered in a correct printing position if not manually so set.

The locking arm 785 carries a roller 788 pivotally mounted thereon. As the print head starts to rotate (counterclockwise in this figure), the roller engages the leading bevelededge 789 of a cam bar 790 that is rigidly mounted on the back side (left in FIG. 1) of the frame plate 104. The cam plate 790 is spaced away from the frame plate by suitable spacers and studs 791 so as to be readily engageable with roller 788. The cam plate 790 has a length which keeps the locking arm 785 in .deep contact with the teeth of the rack 378 throughout the printing phase of a cycle of operation. Trailing the locking cam plate 790 is an unlocking cam plate 792, also mounted on the frame plate 104. This cam plate likewise is spaced from the adjacent frame plate by suitable spacers and studs 793. This cam plate 792 is located inside of the locking cam plate 790, and as the roller 788 comes off of cam 790, it is moved outwardly by a leading cam edge 794 and will thereafter roll against the outside of this cam plate 792. In this position the locking arm 785 is out of locking engagement with the racks 378 and the entire setting mechanism can be restored to zero if necessary.

It will be understood that a suitable inking mechanism 800 of any suitable construction is placed ahead of the stamp die and before the printing mechanisms of the print head can reach the printing position, i.e., the lowermost peripheral edge of the print head in FIGS. 2 and 3. i

It is believed obvious that many modifications can be made in the present invention. For example, it can be either larger or smaller than mentioned; it can have more or less than two slogan plates, and they can be of any size desired; the various printing mechanisms shown can be controlled by means other than as herein shown as by setting them directly from the interior setting bars within the limits of the print head, etc.

These and other such changes are believed within the scope of the present invention and accordingly an interpretation of the claims should be commensurate with the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A printing device for a postage meter comprising:

1. a hollow drive shaft;

2. a substantially cylindrical print head rigidly mounted on said shaft;

3. adjustable printing elements carried in said cylindrical head, said elements being mounted within said print head and extending to the periphery thereof;

4. axially extending control elements carried on said drive shaft and movable to adjust said printing elements to selected printing positions;

5. means operatively connecting said control elements to said printing elements;

6. setting bars slidably but non-rotatably mounted within said shaft;

7. means for permanently connecting said setting bars to said control elements through the wall of said shaft;

8. manually operated selection members for adjusting said setting bars; and

9. means for permanently connecting said manually operated selection means to said setting bars.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control elements are mounted in axially extending slots in the periphery of said shaft.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising also:

1. an auxiliary printing member movable out to. or

interiorly of, the periphery of said print head; and

2. means for selectively moving said auxiliary printing member between said peripheral or interior position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising also means for rotating said shaft and means for locking the adjusted control elements in an adjusted position upon start of rotation of said shaft.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for connecting each of said setting bars to its respective control element comprises:

1. a ring mounted on each of said setting bars, each ring having an annular slot in the periphery thereof;

2. a longitudinal slot through the wall of said drive shaft in an angular position below each respective control element and so located as to extend over the area through which said slotted ring and associated setting bar can be moved; and

3. a pin in the respective control element engaging the annular slot in its respective ring.

6. The apparatus of claim I wherein the means for operatively connecting said control elements to said printing elements comprises a gear train.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said manually operated selection members comprise:

l. a plurality of selection bars movable parallel to the axis of the hollow drive shaft;

2. manually operated members for setting said bars in a selected value position; and

3. means set by the movement of said bar for displaying the value selected by operation of the manually operated members.

8. Printing means for a postage meter comprising:

1. a hollow rotatable shaft;

2. a print head mounted on said shaft;

3. value printing elements mounted within said print head and forming a part of a periphery of said print head;

4. dater printing elements comprising adjustable printing elements mounted within said print head;

5. a control rack for each of said value and dater printing elements, said rack being slidably mounted on the exterior of said shaft;

6. a gear train within said print head connecting each one of said racks with its respective printing element;

7. a setting rack for each of said control racks slidably but non-rotatably mounted within said shaft;

8. a grooved disk mounted on each of said setting racks;

9. a pin mounted in each said control rack extending through an axial slot in the wall of said hollow shaft to engage the groove of the disk of the respective control rack; and

,10. manual means for positioning said setting racks.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 comprising also:

1. an auxiliary print section extending through a portion of the periphery of said print head and positionable in either a position in the periphery of said print head or into a position interiorly thereof;

2. means within said print head for selectively positioning said auxiliary print section of either a peripheral or an interior position;

3. an auxiliary control rack mounted on the exterior of said shaft;

4. means operatively connecting said auxiliary control rack to said positioning means;

5. an auxiliary setting rack slidably but nonrotatably mounted within said shaft;

1 6. means for permanently connecting said auxiliary control rack and said auxiliary setting rack; and

7. manually controlled means for adjusting said auxiliary setting rack.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 having:

1. a plurality of auxiliary print sections movable to a printing or non-printing position;

2. an auxiliary control rack for each print section;

3. an auxiliary setting rack for each print section;

4 means for permanently connecting each said auxiliary control rack and its respective auxiliary setting rack; and

5. manually controlled means for adjusting said auxiliary setting racks.

11. In a postage meter having:

1. a frame;

2. a hollow drive shaft rotatably mounted in said frame;

3. a print head rigidly mounted on said drive shaft;

4. a plurality of settable printing elements mounted in said print head; and

5. a plurality of manual setting members mounted in the frame exteriorly of said print head;

a means operatively connecting the settable printing elements in said print head to the respective setting member comprising:

a. an exterior positioning bar for each of said printing elements slidably mounted for longitudinal movement on the exterior of said drive shaft and penetrating into the interior of said print head, each of said bars being located on said drive shaft in an angular position suitable for connection to the printing element with which it cooperates;

b. interior positioning bars slidably mounted for longitudinal movement within said drive shaft, therebeing one such interior bar for each exterior bar, each of said interior bars extending beyond the end of said hollow drive shaft;

c. connecting means operatively connecting each, of said manual setting members to the extending portion of its respective interior positioning bar for positioning its respective interior positioning bar;

d. a ring mounted on each of said interior positioning bars, each said ring having an annular slot in the'periphery thereof and the respective rings being so spaced one from another that each may be set to any position irrespective of the position of the others;

e, a lengthwise extending slot through the wall of said hollow drive shaft below the respective exterior bar and so located in said hollow drive shaft as to register with said slotted ring on the respective interior bar in any position thereof; and

f. a pin rigidly mounted on each exterior bar extending through the respective slot in the wall of said hollow drive shaft and engaging the slot in the periphery in the ring fixed to therespective interior bar.

12. A printing means for a postage meter comprising:

1. a hollow rotatable drive shaft;

2. a print head rigidly mounted on said drive shaft;

3. a value printing elements mounted within said print head and forming a part of the periphery of said print head;

4. dater printing elements mounted within said print head and adjustable to either form a part of the periphery thereof or to be retracted into an interior position therein; 7

5. a positioning element for each of said value and dater printing elements, said positioning elements being mounted on the exterior of said hollow drive shaft for longitudinal movement thereon and extending within the print head;

6. means within said print head connecting each one of said positioning elements to its respective printing element;

7. a plurality of manual setting members mounted in said postage meter exteriorly of said print head; 8. a control bar for each positioning element, said bars being mounted within the interior of said shaft for longitudinal movement therein and extending beyond the end thereof;

9. means operatively connecting each of said setting members to the extending portion of its respective control bar for longitudinally positioning its respective control bar;

10. a disk having a slot in the periphery thereof rigidly secured to each of said control bars;

11. a longitudinally extending slot in the wall of said drive shaft underlying each of the positioning elements and at a location to register with the disk mounted on the respective control bar; and

12. a pin rigidly secured to each said positioning element extending through its respective slot and engaging the slot in the disk secured to the respective control bar.

13. In a postage meter having:

1. a frame;

2. a hollow drive shaft rotatably mounted in said frame;

3. a print head rigidly mounted on said drive shaft;

4. a plurality of settable printing elements mounted in said print head; and

5. a plurality of manual setting members mounted in the frame of said machine;

a means for operatively connecting each of the settable printing elements in said print head to its respective one of said setting members comprising: a. an exterior positioning bar for each of said printing elements slidably mounted for longitudinal movement on the exterior of said drive shaft and penetrating into the interior of said print head;

b. an interior positioning bar for each of said exterior positioning bars slidably mounted for longitudinal movement within said drive shaft, each of said interior bars extending beyond the end of said hollow drive shaft;

0. means operatively connecting each of said manual setting members to the extending portion of its respective interior positioning bar for positioning its respective interior positioning bar;

d. a collar non-slidably mounted on one bar of each pair of said exterior and interior bars, each said collar having an annular slot in a wall thereof and the respective collars being so spaced one from another that each may be set to any position irrespective of the position of the others;

e. a lengthwise extending slot through the wall of said hollow drive shaft below each respective exterior bar and 50 located in said hollow drive shaft as to register with its respective collar in any position thereof; and

said pair of said exterior and interior bars extending through the respective slot in the wall of said hollow drive shaft and engaging the slot in the respective collar.

14. An arithmetic and printing unit for a postage meter comprising:

1. a cylindrical hollow main drive shaft;

2. means for mounting said drive shaft for rotation;

3. means for cyclically rotating said drive shaft;

4. an ascending register and a descending register;

5. a print head mounted on said drive shaft;

6. a manually operative selection mechanism for selecting values to be registered in said registers and in said print head;

. a pin rigidly mounted on the other bar of each of 7. a mutilated drum acutator mounted on said drive shaft;

8. means controlled by said selection mechanism for registering a selected value in'one of said registers by said actuator in accordance with a value set in said selection mechanism;

9. a second mutilated drum actuator;

10. means driven by said main drive shaft for driving said second mutilated drum actuator;

11. means controlled by said selection mechanism for registering the selected value in said second register by said second actuator in accordance with the selected value set in the selection mechanism simultaneously with the registration of said value in said one of said registers;

12. value stamping members positionably mounted within said print head for printing a stamp value on mail matter;

13. auxiliary printing members carried by said print head;

14. a plurality of setting members slidably but nonrotatably mounted within said hollow drive shaft, some of said setting members being associated with the value stamping members and the others of said members being associated with said auxiliary printing members;

15. means operated by said selection mechanism for positioning the said some of said setting membersto a selected value position;

16. manually operated setting devices for setting the others of said setting members;

17. exterior slides slidably mounted on the exterior of said drive shaft;

18. means for permanently connecting each of said setting members to one of said exterior slides through the wall of said shaft and in all angular positions of said shaft; and

19. means for operatively connecting said exterior slides to said value stamping members and said auxiliary printing members, respectively. 

1. A printing device for a postage meter comprising:
 1. a hollow drive shaft;
 1. an auxiliary printing member movable out to, or interiorly of, the periphery of said print head; and
 1. a ring mounted on each of said setting bars, each ring having an annular slot in the periphery thereof;
 1. a hollow rotatable drive shaft;
 1. a plurality of auxiliary print sections movable to a printing or non-printing position;
 1. a plurality of selection bars movable parallel to the axis of the hollow drive shaft;
 1. an auxiliary print section extending through a portion of the periphery of said print head and positionable in either a position in the periphery of said print head or into a position interiorly thereof;
 1. a frame;
 1. a cylindrical hollow main drive shaft;
 1. a frame;
 1. a hollow rotatable shaft;
 2. manually operated members for setting said bars in a selected value position; and
 2. a print head mounted on said shaft;
 2. a hollow drive shaft rotatably mounted in said frame;
 2. an auxiliary control rack for each print section;
 2. means for mounting said drive shaft for rotation;
 2. a hollow drive shaft rotatably mounted in said frame;
 2. means within said print head for selectively positioning said auxiliary print section of either a peripheral or an interior position;
 2. a print head rigidly mounted on said drive shaft;
 2. a longitudinal slot through the wall of said drive shaft in an angular position below each respective control element and so located as to extend over the area through which said slotted ring and associated setting bar can be moved; and
 2. means for selectively moving said auxiliary printing member between said peripheral or interior position.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control elements are mounted in axially extending slots in the periphery of said shaft.
 2. a substantially cylindrical print head rigidly mounted on said shaft;
 3. adjustable printing elements carried in said cylindrical head, said elements being mounted within said print head and extending to the periphery thereof;
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising also:
 3. a pin in the respective control element engaging the annular slot in its respective ring.
 3. means for cyclically rotating said drive shaft;
 3. a value printing elements mounted within said print head and forming a part of the periphery of said print head;
 3. an auxiliary control rack mounted on the exterior of said shaft;
 3. a print head rigidly mounted on said drive shaft;
 3. a print head rigidly mounted on said drive shaft;
 3. means set by the movement of said bar for displaying the value selected by operation of the manually operated members.
 3. an auxiliary setting rack for each print section; 4 means for permanently connecting each said auxiliary control rack and its respective auxiliary setting rack; and
 3. value printing elements mounted within said print head and forming a part of a periphery of said print head;
 4. a plurality of settable printing elements mounted in said print head; and
 4. dater printing elements comprising adjustable printing elements mounted within said print head;
 4. a plurality of settable printing elements mounted in said print head; and
 4. means operatively connecting said auxiliary control rack to said positioning means;
 4. dater printing elements mounted within said print head and adjustable to either form a part of the periphery thereof or to be retracted into an interior position therein;
 4. an ascending register and a descending register;
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising also means for rotating said shaft and means for locking the adjusted control elements in an adjusted position upon start of rotation of said shaft.
 4. axially extending control elements carried on said drive shaft and movable to adjust said printing elements to selected printing positions;
 5. means operatively connecting said control elements to said printing elements;
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for connecting each of said setting bars to its respective control element comprises:
 5. a print head mounted on said drive shaft;
 5. a positioning element for each of said value and dater printing elements, said positioning elements being mounted on the exterior of said hollow drive shaft for longitudinal movement thereon and extending within the print head;
 5. an auxiliary setting rack slidably but nonrotatably mounted within said shaft;
 5. manually controlled means for adjusting said auxiliary setting racks.
 5. a plurality of manual setting members mounted in the frame of said machine; a means for operatively connecting each of the settable printing elements in said print head to its respective one of said setting members comprising: a. an exterior positioning bar for each of said printing elements slidably mounted for longitudinal movement on the exterior of said drive shaft and penetrating into the interior of said print head; b. an interior positioning bar for each of said exterior positioning bars slidably mounted for longitudinal movement within said drive shaft, each of said interior bars extending beyond the end of said hollow drive shaft; c. means operated by each of said manual setting members for positioning its respective interior positioning bar; d. a collar non-slidably mounted on one bar of each pair of said exterior and interior bars, each said collar having an annular slot in a wall thereof and the respective collars being so spaced one from another that each may be sEt to any position irrespective of the position of the others; e. a lengthwise extending slot through the wall of said hollow drive shaft below each respective exterior bar and so located in said hollow drive shaft as to register with its respective collar in any position thereof; and f. a pin rigidly mounted on the other bar of each of said pair of said exterior and interior bars extending through the respective slot in the wall of said hollow drive shaft and engaging the slot in the respective collar.
 5. a plurality of manual setting members mounted in the frame exteriorly of said print head; a means operatively connecting the settable printing elements in said print head to the respective setting member comprising: a. an exterior positioning bar for each of said printing elements slidably mounted for longitudinal movement on the exterior of said drive shaft and penetrating into the interior of said print head, each of said bars being located on said drive shaft in an angular position suitable for connection to the printing element with which it cooperates; b. interior positioning bars slidably mounted for longitudinal movement within said drive shaft, therebeing one such Interior bar for each exterior bar, each of said interior bars extending beyond the end of said hollow drive shaft; c. means operated by each of said manual setting members for positioning its respective interior positioning bar; d. a ring mounted on each of said interior positioning bars, each said ring having an annular slot in the periphery thereof and the respective rings being so spaced one from another that each may be set to any position irrespective of the position of the others; e. a lengthwise extending slot through the wall of said hollow drive shaft below the respective exterior bar and so located in said hollow drive shaft as to register with said slotted ring on the respective interior bar in any position thereof; and f. a pin rigidly mounted on each exterior bar extending through the respective slot in the wall of said hollow drive shaft and engaging the slot in the periphery in the ring fixed to the respective interior bar.
 5. a control rack for each of said value and dater printing elements, said rack being slidably mounted on the exterior of said shaft;
 6. means for permanently connecting said auxiliary control rack and said auxiliary setting rack; and
 6. a gear train within said print head connecting each one of said racks with its respective printing element;
 6. a manually operative selection mechanism for selecting values to be registered in said registers and in said print head;
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for operatively connecting said control elements to said printing elements comprises a gear train.
 6. means within said print head connecting each one of said positioning elements to its respective printing element;
 6. setting bars slidably but non-rotatably mounted within said shaft;
 7. means for permanently connecting said setting bars to said control elements through the wall of said shaft;
 7. a plurality of manual setting members mounted in said postage meter exteriorly of said print head;
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said manually operated selection members comprise:
 7. a mutilated drum acutator mounted on said drive shaft;
 7. manually controlled means for adjusting said auxiliary setting rack.
 7. a setting rack for each of said control racks slidably but non-rotatably mounted within said shaft;
 8. a grooved disk mounted on each of said setting racks;
 8. Printing means for a postage meter comprising:
 8. means controlled by said selection mechanism for registering a selected value in one of said registers by said actuator in accordance with a value set in said selection mechanism;
 8. a control bar for each positioning element, said bars being mounted within the interior of said shaft for longitudinal movement therein and extending beyond the end thereof;
 8. manually operated selection members for adjusting said setting bars; and
 9. means for permanently connecting said manually operated selection means to said setting bars.
 9. means controlled by said setting members for longitudinally positioning its respective control bar;
 9. a second mutilated drum actuator;
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 comprising also:
 9. a pin mounted in each said control rack extending through an axial slot in the wall of said hollow shaft to engage the groove of the disk of the respective control rack; and
 10. The apparatus of claim 7 having:
 10. a disk having a slot in the periphery thereof rigidly secured to each of said control bars;
 10. means driven by said main drive shaft for driving said second mutilated drum actuator;
 10. manual means for positioning said setting racks.
 11. means controlled by said selection mechanism for registering the selected value in said second register by said second actuator in accordance with the selected value set in the selection mechanism simultaneously with the registration of said value in said one of said registers;
 11. a longitudinally extending slot in the wall of said drive shaft underlying each of the positioning elements and at a location to register with the disk mounted on the respective control bar; and
 11. In a postage meter having:
 12. A printing means for a postage meter comprising:
 12. a pin rigidly secured to each said positioning element extending through its respective slot and engaging the slot in the disk secured to the respective control bar.
 12. value stamping members positionably mounted within said print head for printing a stamp value on mail matter;
 13. In a postage meter having:
 13. auxiliary printing members carried by said print head;
 14. An arithmetic and printing unit for a postage meter comprising:
 1. a cylindrical hollow main drive shaft;
 2. means for mounting said drive shaft for rotation;
 3. means for cyclically rotating said drive shaft;
 4. an ascending register and a descending register;
 5. a print head mounted on said drive shaft;
 6. a manually operative selection mechanism for selecting values to be registered in said registers and in said print head;
 7. a mutilated drum acutator mounted on said drive shaft;
 8. means controlled by said selection mechanism for registering a selected value in one of said registers by said actuator in accordance with a value set in said selection mechanism;
 9. a second mutilated drum actuator;
 10. means driven by said main drive shaft for driving said second mutilated drum actuator;
 11. means controlled by said selection mechanism for registering the selected value in said second register by said second actuator in accordance with the selected value set in the selection mechanism simultaneously with the registration of said value in said one of said registers;
 12. value stamping members positionably mounted within said print head for printing a stamp value on mail matter;
 13. auxiliary printing members carried by said print head;
 14. a plurality of setting members slidably but nonrotatably mounted within said hollow drive shaft, some of said setting members being associated with the value stamping members and the others of said members being associated with said auxiliary printing members;
 15. means operated by said selection mechanism for positioning the said some of said setting members to a selected value position;
 16. manually operated setting devices for setting the others of said setting members;
 17. exterior slides slidably mounted on the exterior of said drive shaft;
 18. means for permanently connecting each of said setting members to one of said exterior slides through the wall of said shaft and in all angular positions of said shaft; and
 19. means for operatively connecting said exterior slides to said value stamping members and said auxiliary printing members, respectively.
 15. means operated by said selection mechanism for positioning the said some of said setting members to a selected value position;
 16. manually operated setting devices for setting the others of said setting members;
 17. exterior slides slidably mounted on the exterior of said drive shaft;
 18. means for permanently connecting each of said setting members to one of said exterior slides through the wall of said shaft and in all angular positions of said shaft; and
 19. means for operatively connecting said exterior slides to said value stamping members and said auxiliary printing members, respectively. 